Chinese firm admits nuclear export violations: U.S. Justice Dept

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A nuclear engineering company with ties to the Chinese government pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of illegally exporting coatings that can withstand high temperatures to a power plant in Pakistan, the U.S. Justice Department said.

China Nuclear Industry Huaxing Construction Co Ltd entered the guilty plea in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, according to the department.

The company admitted to charges that it conspired to ship the high-performance coatings through China to Pakistan in 2006 and 2007. The shipments were made despite Washington's denial of an application to export the coatings directly to Pakistan's Chashma II nuclear power plant, according to papers filed in court ahead of the plea.